Joseph Mastine

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Joseph Mastine, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action east of Ronssoy, France, September 29, 1918. Finding the advance of his organization held up by a withering enemy machine-gun fire, Private Mastine volunteered to accompany another soldier forward and with utter disregard of their own personal danger, they rushed forward through an intense machine-gun fire directly upon the enemy nest, killing two and capturing five of the enemy and silencing that gun. Discovering another machine-gun nest close by, which was pouring a deadly fire on the American forces, preventing their advance, Private Mastine and his companion charged upon this strong point, killing the gunner, and putting this machine gun out of action. Without hesitation they jumped into the enemy’s trench, killed two and captured sixteen German soldiers. Private Mastine then rejoined his platoon and continued to advance until wounded.